By Kelsey Kendall
Military-affiliated students at Old Dominion University are turning their service into high-demand civilian careers, backed by a University that understands their path. Nearly 30% of the Monarch student population has military ties, and many pursue rigorous STEM degrees at the Batten College of Engineering and Technology. Now, new research is helping Old Dominion University strengthen tailored support and structured communities in order for student veterans in engineering degree pathways to reach greater levels of success.
An interdisciplinary team of faculty led a five-year, National Science Foundation-funded project to identify how to better meet the needs of student veterans. The research focused on student veterans studying engineering.
Through surveys, structured seminars and ongoing evaluation, researchers found student veterans benefited from intentional academic, professional and peer support. For example, financial assistance helped bridge gaps when GI Bill benefits ran out. While networking and mentorship opportunities strengthened students’ confidence in translating their military experience into civilian careers, the goal was to find where veteran students might face obstacles in their path to degree completion and learn what helps break down those barriers.
The research team included Anthony Dean, Ph.D. (B.S. ’98, Ph.D. ’03), assistant dean and professor in the Department of Engineering Technology; Cynthia Tomovic, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Workforce Development; Kim Bullington, Ph.D. (B.A. ’98, M.A. ’06, Ed.S. ’10, Ph.D. ’14), assistant professor of higher education and graduate program director; and Vukica Jovanovic, Ph.D., professor and chair in the Department of Engineering Technology.
Over the course of the project, the team provided support to more than 50 veteran students. The participants took part in a unique, student-driven seminar that connected them to other veterans in the STEM field who understood the transition from military service to higher education.
“We really tried to focus on guest speakers who are veteran engineers themselves so they could talk about their specific experiences transitioning from veteran engineering students to veteran engineers,” Dr. Bullington said. “We did a few company field trips and networking lunches and what that really did was really increase the peer community building.”
Alumni spoke to the students about their experiences, such as navigating financial aid, balancing family and school obligations and preparing for a civilian career.
“I don’t know that they understood what they actually brought to the table being a veteran with regard to their knowledge and skill set,” Dr. Tomovic said.
Dr. Jovanovic said seeing professionals who could be considered the students’ “future selves,” and understand how they got there, was a highlight of the project.
“We were exploring their engineering identity as part of their professional development, because sometimes it’s hard to translate their work experience in those fast-paced work environments and talk about their previous experience in a way that civilians will understand,” Dr. Jovanovic said.
The team hopes to see the results of their research be used to support institutional change from community-building initiatives to addressing hurdles for veterans in academia.
The University has long supported its military-affiliated students. The Military Connection Center offers resources and guidance, while the University also provides dedicated study spaces and lounges, as well as staff to help navigate campus life and Veterans Affairs education benefits. The University has been repeatedly recognized as a top military-friendlyschool, serving its students through various support programs tailored toward veterans and military-affiliated students.
Through impactful research and intentional consideration of University resources and initiatives, Old Dominion University is continuing to serve military-affiliated students, ensuring their path to a degree is one of support and success.